Jazz 101

John Szwed`s concise introduction to the history of jazz traces the music`s gradual development over the past century, from its relatively unsophisticated beginnings in the bars and bordellos of New Orleans to its present-day incarnation as the quintessential American art form. Useful to both jazz newcomers and seasoned aficionados, JAZZ 101 features significant highlights in the music`s development, including the developing role of the rhythm section, the rise of swing music and the big bands, the advent of bebop, the splintering of the traditional and avant-garde camps in the late 1950s, and recent developments like drum-and-bass and neo-swing. In an erudite, analytical, and passionate narrative, Szwed also reveals some of the techniques behind jazz improvisation, as well as recounting the social pressures that led to the music`s marginalization in cities like New York during the 1970s. Mini-biographies of five major jazz innovators, including saxophonist Lester Young and pianist Art Tatum, and appendices including a selected bibliography and record guide round out a valuable addition to the understanding of this vibrant genre. Copyright (C) Muze Inc. 2005. For personal use only. All rights reserved.